I can’t say I knew what to expect from Mr. McCargo. I saw him win Season Four of The Next Food Network Star reality series on the Food Network. I also watch his Food Network show, Big Daddy’s House. It felt good to see another African American chef make it to the line of success. After chatting it up with him, I noticed that he’s real. Aaron is the kind of guy that is proud of his success and isn’t resting. You can tell he’s strategizing on his next move and using his current platform as a stepping-stone. His life story is amazing. His cooking is amazing. His philosophy is amazing. I present to you Chef Aaron McCargo Jr.
ICC: How real is it for you right now - could you have honestly ever imagined the success you’ve had thus far?
Chef Aaron: To be honest, other people have always told me that they see it. But everyday I’m really pinching myself because this is truly a blessing.
ICC: I know you grew up in Camden, when you were younger what did you dream of becoming - what type of work did you think you’d be doing?
Chef Aaron: I always thought I’d be cooking and I always thought that I’d be a chef. My father would always tell me that I loved to eat and that I was intrigued with food. I never knew that being a chef was anything great. I used to get angry at times and pray to God. I didn’t like sports and I wasn’t the smartest like my other siblings - all I had was cooking. Sometimes you have to believe that you have a gift and never minimize what your gift is.
ICC: You mentioned that you were angry. Why were you angry?
Chef Aaron: I was angry because I’d see all my friends doing other things and they were great. They’d be playing sports or good at science and all I ever knew how to do was cook. Even at a young age other folks were doing great things and I was cooking.
ICC: How old were you when this was happening?
Chef Aaron: Between 12 and 16 years old.
ICC: What were you cooking at 12 years old?
Chef Aaron: Honestly, I was always into home economics. During 6th, 7th, and 8th grades I would cook food in class and come home and practice those same dishes. I used to save my allowance and cook food for my family members. As I got older it just sort of became my job to cook. I would often feel like I was in a restaurant because my family would come in and put in their orders. I can remember my sisters ordering cheese steaks and homemade French fries. I would come home and just funk it out. I would always experiment with dried herbs adding them to mashed potatoes or meatloaf. And because my mother worked the night shift, this gave me the opportunity to cook.
ICC: What was your inspiration for getting into the culinary arts?
Chef Aaron: My father. From day one he really inspired me. My father would always tell me I had a gift and he’d leave it at that. To this day my father still calls and acts like my number one fan. He sometimes brings in a scrap book of all the current articles; he’s really my biggest fan.
ICC: You’re such an inspiration - what motivates you today?
Chef Aaron: The people that I see and their responses are what motivates me. There are so many people that might have a gift and they don’t know it. God blessed us all. People look at me and they hear the stories and they really believe in something that I love to do. I would have never predicted this lifestyle; I’m simply doing something I love to do. That’s what motivates me.
ICC: You cook a wide range of meals from things like BBQ to comfort food - what do you like cooking the best?
Chef Aaron: You know what? I really don’t have a particular style. I like to free style cook, you know, not following recipes. I like to open a cabinet and go for broke. As far as one style of cooking, I can’t really pin point that. But I can tell you I like to use tons of spices, flavors, and seasonings. If you’ve seen the show (Big Daddy’s House) then you know I like to use things like smoked paprika, black pepper, garlic, rosemary and Worcestershire sauce. I love for those seasonings to enhance the flavors of whatever I’m cooking. I think that’s really what separates me from other people too; I’m going to bump it up.
ICC: How do you come up with recipes?
Chef Aaron: I can’t take credit for this at all. It’s that gift that I was talking about earlier. Sometimes in the middle of the night I’ll wake up with thoughts and I’ll start writing our recipes. I keep a notepad near my bed so I can jot them down when they come. I actually just wrote down three recipes last night. I basically eat and sleep food. I don’t call up friends or read cookbooks - it’s really the gift that I have.
ICC: What was the competition on ‘The Next Food Network Star’ like for you? Was it as difficult as it seemed?
Chef Aaron: It was a lot of work. It was like a full time job. You either had to know how to cook or you didn’t and you had to be on point at all times. I’ve had tons of job interviews for cooking jobs, but there’s nothing that can compare to the process of going through this competition.
ICC: Would you do it again?
Chef Aaron: Heck no. You couldn’t pay me all the tea in China to do it again. There’s literally no amount of money you could pay me to do the competition again.
ICC: How has the show changed your life and does it have any impact on the way you cook?
Chef Aaron: Really, the show hasn’t changed me all that much. I’m excited because I get the opportunity to do a lot of creative cooking and do original recipes with some twists. Also, the fact that there are people who want to try my recipes and they’re really doing it - that excites me a lot.
ICC: What’s a typical day like for you?
Chef Aaron: Well, when we’re taping it’s an entire day’s process. But outside of taping, I do normal things. I split home duties with my wife. I take my kids to day care, then I’ll go grocery shopping. I may have a meeting or two with my manager and assistants to talk over agendas. After that I’ll come home to create and write down recipes. That’s what I call R & D - Recipe Development. I’ll call my brother Donovan over to try out recipes. Usually my family will taste a new creation. We’ll get out Styrofoam plates and glasses of water and they’ll try out the food. If the recipe is no good, I’ll throw them out of the kitchen and try again. I’ll give the kids a bath and then watch sports games with my boys. I will typically check e-mails and then it’s off to bed with a notepad on my chest. That’s how Big Daddy rolls. And you can’t forget prayer. There’s typically a lot of prayer.
ICC: You mentioned shopping. Where do you shop?
Chef Aaron: I live in Jersey. So I’ll shop at Shop Rite. Also there’s a really good Asian supermarket that has really great produce and fish that I’ll shop at.
ICC: So now that you’re pretty popular, what’s the response been like when you go out to shop?
Chef Aaron: It’s a crazy reaction. Sometimes I’ll be in a hurry and I’ll go in the store for two items, there are usually about 20 people all around me asking me about recipes and tips. I did hear about this service where you can order food online. Although I’m not at that status yet, that’s something I may end up looking into.
ICC: Some of the shows that are up this season seem to have you cooking tons of different types of food - is there one central theme throughout all of your cooking?
Chef Aaron: Everything that I cook has a story behind it. Like last Sunday I cooked a meal that I had prepared for my wife when she came home with our new baby daughter Jordan. Everything is always based on a story or person. You have to understand that I love people and I love life and that’s what I try to bring across - a story about flavors and what it is that excites me about them. That’s why the show is something I really want people to watch. It’s not just a script. It’s a real life experience. It’s about what food is to me. Real people and real food.
ICC: I also noticed that you’ve got some of your former competitors joining you in the kitchen. Are you excited about this?
Chef Aaron: I love it. I’m a real dude and my former competitors are my friends. We talk all the time. If some of them lived close enough they’d be in my house and be a part of my R & D (Recipe Development). We built real relationships and we’re all cool.
ICC: What’s the most important kitchen utensil that you couldn’t live without?
Chef Aaron: A sharp knife! Not just any knife - but a good one. A sharp knife is the key for good productive cooking in your kitchen. It’s not always about the fancy knife skills, but it’s about safety and sharp knife does allow things to look a lot neater.
ICC: Who are some of your favorite food network chefs or cooks?
Chef Aaron: I watch Iron Chef, Bobby Flay, Paula Deen, Good Eats with Alton Brown, and I love the personality of Guy Fieri in Guy’s Big Bite.
ICC: What does Aaron do in his spare time?
Chef Aaron: In my spare time, I like to relax. I’ll kick back, have a good cold beer, some buffalo wings, a cigar, and write recipes. I love spending quality time with my wife and family too.
ICC: Buffalo Wings? So, ranch or Bleu cheese?
Chef Aaron: A good homemade bleu cheese, one made by me of course.
ICC: What’s next for Aaron - what can we expect?
Chef Aaron: Well, I’m excited about the show. I’m looking forward to doing another season of good shows. Hopefully in the future I can put out a good cook book and have an opportunity to do a fun road show. People also keep asking me if they can come into the kitchen while I cook - so maybe a live show would be good too. You never know, if people keep tuning in then there could be a lot of possibilities.
ICC: Like I mentioned earlier - you’re such an inspiration for tons of people, especially those from urban areas - what’s some good advice or words of wisdom that you’d share with those reading?
Chef Aaron: First, put God on top. It’s important to have a good prayer life. Second, you need a good support group. Then you have to believe in yourself. Never underestimate. There’s always a way to make a better living. Never minimize what you love to do and don’t be ashamed of it. If you want to be it you can. All people are cut out to work in Corporate America or go to college and that’s okay. I think it’s important to put your energies toward something positive.
Visit: http://www.aaronmccargo.com/